They Tell Me That

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 25, 2 December 1938, Page 15

They Tell Me That

Our Special Correspondent, Jennifer Quentin, Gives You The Latest Hollywood Gossip

actors in a family are enough, Dick Powell and his wife, Joan Blondell, have refused an acting contract offered their four-year-old son, Norman Scott Powell. Columbia Studio sought the youngster for the role of ‘‘Baby Dumpling’’ in the picturisation of the ‘‘Blondie’’ cartoon comic strip. In declining the contract offered Norman, the Powells said there would be no acting for him or his new sister, Ellen, until their education had been completed. Rule Breaker mMUNNY how some people can get by with breaking all the rules ... take Ronald Colman... he never does any of the things that are supposed to be necessary for suecess in Hollywood ... never goes places, never gives parties, B BELIEVING -that two

never gets talked about, seldom grants interviews, rarely signs autograph books, doesn’t spend his money, never bothers with publicity; but he’s been a major star for fifteen years now and "If I Were King," his next film, is rumoured to be the finest thing he’s ever done... if you could see him as he is off screen with his skin tanned. mahogany and those dashes of grey at his temples I believe you'd agree that he is easily the handsomest. man in Hollywood. Good Queen Bette WARNERS have set writers to work upon preparing a screen biography of Queen Elizabeth. They plan: to cast _. Rette Davis in the title role, with Errol Flynn as Essex. Miss Davis and Flynn were teamed together in "The Sisters." Flynn Seriously Til BRROL FLYNN was critically ill for a week recently. At first it was thought to be a touch of influenza, but the illness. developed into pneumonia. His good friends, David Niven and the Earl of War. wick, were ready to offer their hiood: for a transfusion,. but. Errol, took» a turn for the bet: ter. He is now. completely recovered. ‘Lili; Damita, his wife, was in New York ready to sail for Hurope when she: heard the news, and deferred her departure until BHrrol. was declared: aut ef danger. He recuperated from his iliness. at. Director Eddie Goulding’s hom in Palm Springs. PETE aE #2.

Shirley Grows Up [TF you need any final indication that Wonder Child Shirley Temple has really grown up at

last, you should | sit next to her some evening at one of her previews. Time was when she viewed her shadow on the sereen detachedly, chortling with glee over the funny

scenes and looking very sad when her film image. displayed grief. Now, like any ene of the other Hollywood veterans, she ~ shifts nervously about in her seat, watching critically. "i shouldn't have done that," she whispers to her mother. "1 could have read those lines faster, lt drags." A moment later: "That routine needs one more break before George (Murphy) gets on the table." Don’t be sad, though. The evolution was necessary. With or without obvious technique, Shirley’s still a trouper. Cant Spank Ker Now URTHBDER proof that Shirley has grown up is given by the fact that, in deference to the wishes of her fans, Shirley Temple will receive no spankings in her future pictures. According to characteractress Mary Nash, who played the hard-hearted governess in "Heidi," hundreds of fans have written to her and to the studio protesting against the scene in which Miss Nash slapped Shirley. Because of these letters a scene

in the new film, "Little Princess," in which Miss Nash was to administer a spanking to Shirley, is being cut out of the script. Conway Tearle’s. Death. THE most important people in. movies turned: out for the. funeral: of Conway: Tearle, matinee idol of pre-war years. Yet these many years he was unable to: get satisfactory film work. His last real success: was: on. the Broadway stage in. "Dinner as: Hight," when: he: played: the: passe: actor who committed snitciite:. He: got his first important lead’ in

Sydney in 1901, when he appeared in "Ben Hur." ‘He has played opposite such actresses as Ethel Barryme-o, Grace George and Tallulah Bankhead, Adele Lowland, his wife, "as at his side when he died. He had two former wives. He was sixty years old. ,

Not So Smart BARBARA READ, one of the. original "Three Smart Girls" in| the. picture which started’ Deanna Durbin on the road to sereen suceess, has been married: and divorced since that film was released. in the sequel, "Three Smart Girls Go To: Town," Barbara will be replaced by the Jess sophisticated Helen Parrish: You'll) remember Helen. as the youthful. "meanie" in Deannais; "Mad: About: Miusie,’" and thie: nice; girl in "Boy: of the Streets,?’} :